Pittsburgh Steelers: Antwon Blake Signs With Tennessee Titans
The Pittsburgh Steelers absorbed another blow Thursday. Free agent cornerback Antwon Blake signed with the Tennessee Titans. Blake signed a one-year deal. Blake entered the NFL in 2012 as an undrafted free agent with the Jaguars out of Texas El-Paso. He’s played in 62 games in his first four NFL seasons. He will be once again playing under former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.
Blake started every game for the Steelers in 2015. He recorded a career-high 76 tackles, one sack, and two interceptions during the regular season, including one he returned 70 yards for a touchdown. Blake also recorded an interception, returning it 35 yards, in the Steelers Wild Card victory in Cincinnati.
Blake followed former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Sean Spence, who signed with Tennessee Titans on Wednesday. Last week, the Tennessee Titans signed free agent cornerback Brice McCain, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and LeBeau in 2014.
The Steelers seem to be experiencing issues similar to the Bengals. Mike Zimmer, a former defensive coordinator for Cincinnati, became head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. As reported by the Inquisitr, five former Bengals have signed on with the Vikes. Four of those players are on the defensive side of the ball. LeBeau seems to be doing the same thing in Tennessee.
In 2015, Blake was one of the most targeted cornerbacks in the NFL. Although his campaign was much maligned, Blake still had his share of teams courting his services. Having a bad year is a memory for teams looking to build through free agency. Blake is small, at five-foot-nine, but he’s known as a scrappy player willing to slug it out. That fighter mentality may have been the dealmaker for Tennessee.
Per SB Nation, Blake played the 2015 season with injuries that may have hampered his abilities. Although he suffered from ailments, Blake was able to start every game. That tenacity is possibly what the Titans are looking for.
With off-season regimens starting for most players, Blake should be close to 100 percent by the start of training camp. Recovering from the injuries may have a significant effect on Blake’s performance for the Titans. If Tennessee and LeBeau can revive the 2014 version of Mr. Blake, the risk will be rewarded. The upside to the signing is the fact that Blake is also a solid special teams player. The Titans don’t necessarily have to utilize him as a starter on defense.
Blake joins a group of cornerbacks that includes Jason McCourty, Perrish Cox, Cody Riggs, B.W. Webb, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, and recently signed former Dolphins corner Brice McCain. According to Pro Football Talk, Titans cornerback Coty Sensabaugh signed a three-year contract with the Rams. With the competition, Blake will have to perform at his best to land the starting role.
Blakes struggles are well documented. He had difficulty keeping up with speedy receivers in single coverage and also had trouble making necessary tackles in the open field. Frequently, the yardage against him would come after the missed tackle.
Pro Football Focus pegged him as one of the worst cornerbacks of the 2015 season.
The Steelers cornerback Antwon Blake broke PFF records for yards allowed in coverage (1,074) and missed tackels (28) this year.
— PFF (@PFF) January 4, 2016
The Titans may not have to rely on Blake as heavily as the Steelers did. But, they may be able to give him an opportunity to redeem himself. Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers coaches were confident in his abilities. But after his injury-plagued season, the patience may have worn thin.
LeBeau has been the architect of championship defenses. With the signings of Blake, Spence, and McCain, Tennessee appears to be moving towards tightening a defense that ranked No. 12 in the NFL. The unit suffered in points allowed. They surrendered 26.4 points per game, putting them at No. 27.
[Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images]
